In a fresh wave of concern over the safety of corps members during interstate travel, armed men have abducted 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members traveling to orientation camps in the South-East and South-South regions.
The corps members were traveling in a commercial bus from Ibadan, Oyo State, when attackers intercepted their vehicle along the Owerri–Onitsha Road near the Umunoha community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
Spokesman for the state command, DSP Henry Okoye confirmed the abduction on Thursday, saying security forces have launched a coordinated operation to secure the victims’ safe and unconditional release.
Following the incident, Police Commissioner Audu Bosso visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
Okoye said security personnel were combing surrounding bushes and possible escape routes in search of the abductors, while a Rapid Response Team had been deployed to track the attackers and facilitate the rescue operation.
PerSecondNews recalls that few weeks ago security forces had rescued abducted corps members and other passengers following an attack on vehicles along the Aloma–Egane Expressway in Kogi State.
The Kogi attack occurred at about 4:40 p.m. on August 26 around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria–Onicha-Igo Junction, where armed men reportedly emerged from the bush and blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions.